Justin Timberlake Supports Lance Bass

July 28, 2006 05:55:27 GMT

Justin Timberlake says he supports his former bandmate Lance Bass for coming out of the closet.

Photo credit: Chris Hatcher/PR Photos

Justin Timberlake shows his support for former bandmate Lance Bass. The pop singer says in a statement released through his rep Ken Sunshine, "Lance is one of my great friends. I support him and wish him all the happiness in the world."

Meanwhile, Joey Fatone, another member of NSYNC tells PEOPLE, "He took years to really think about how he was going to tell everyone. I back him up 100 percent."

Bass, who has just spilled the fact that he's gay, tells People he hesitated to come out during his time with NSYNC, saying "I knew that I was in this popular band, and I had four other guys' careers in my hand, and I knew that if I ever acted on it or even said (that I was gay), it would overpower everything."